Center sill housing means for hopper car



United States Patent Inventor Roll MowattLarssen Kinnelon, New JerseyAppl. No. 722,460

Filed April 18, 1968 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Assignee Magor RailcarDivision, Fruehauf Corporation Clifton, New Jersey a corporation ofMichigan CENTER SILL HOUSING MEANS FOR HOPPER CAR 8 Claims, 6 DrawingFigs.

Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Exam bier-Howard BeltranAttorney-lmirie, Smiley, Snyder & Butrum ABSTRACT: A center sill extendslongitudinally through the floor sheet structure of a hopper in arailway car and has a reinforcing plate secured to the bottom portionthereof. Support members are secured to opposite sides of the centersill and a center sill bottom closure member and a longitudinal hood aresecured to the support members in spaced relationship to the centersill. A collar fits over the joint between the hood and floor sheetstructure and is connected therebetween. A floor sheet bottom closureplate is connected with the undersurface of the center sill bottomclosure member and adacent floor sheet portions.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 INVENTOR ROLF MOWATT-LARSSEN ATTORNEYS CENTERSILL HOUSING MEANS FOR HOPPER CAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to hopper cars, and more particularly to suchcars of aluminum construction with conventional underframe structure andcenter discharge outlets. In this type of construction, the center sillmeans passes through the lading containing portion of the hoppers of thecar.

The center sill means is of a steel construction, and the problem ofcontamination arises with certain types of lading which should beisolated from the steel portions of the structure. Accordingly, steelcenter sill constructions which are open to the hopper areunsatisfactory in many instances, and it is desirable to provide meansfor isolating the steel center sill construction from the ladingcontaining hopper.

When center sill closure means is provided of such a construction as toprevent the lading in the hopper from coming into contact with thecenter sill, it is desirable to eliminate depressions and crevices orthe like which would interfere with free flow of the lading and tend toretain it in the hopper. At the same time, it is necessary to providemeans for rigidly interconnecting the closure means both with the centersill means as well as the adjacent floor sheet structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the center sillclosure means is of such a construction that it completely surrounds thecenter sill means and isolates it from the lading in the associatedhopper. The components of the closure means are formed of a suitablematerial such as aluminum or the like which will substantially eliminatethe possibility of contamination with certain types of lading whichwould be contaminated in the presence of steel.

The design ofthe center sill closure means of the present invention issuch as to insure a maximum degree of free flow of lading through thehopper and a minimum possibility of trapping material within the hopper.

The components of the present invention are so interconnected with thecenter sill as well as the adjacent floor sheet structure that a veryrigid and secure interconnection is provided. At the same time, thecomponents can be readily assembled and do not require critical fittingof the parts thereof. Points of stress concentration are alsosubstantially eliminated where they might be caused at the joints orintersections between the various members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectionthrough a hopper illustrating the overall arrangement of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view ofa portion of the structure showingcertain parts broken away for the sake of illustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the floor sheet bottom closure plateofthe present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A conventional longitudinallyextending center sill- 18 extends through the central portion of thehopper, it being apparent that the center sill passes through theopposite floor sheet structures 10 and 12 as hereinafter more fullydescribed. The center sill closure means is indicated generally byreference numeral 20, and the details of the construction thereof aremore fully illustrated in FIGS. 2--6 inclusive.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4, the center sill means indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 18 includes a pair of elongatedlongitudinally extending members 30 and 32 formed of steel. Member 30includes a vertically extending wall portion 36 which joins with ahorizontally extending wall portion 38. Member 32 includes a verticallyextending wall portion 40 which joins with a horizontally extending wallportion 42. Wall portions 38 and 42 are rigidly secured to one anotheralong the abutting edges thereof as by welding or the like to provide arigid elongated structure.

A flat generally rectangular reinforcing plate 46 also formed of steelis disposed in transverse spanning relationship to the undersurfaces ofthe vertical walls 36 and 40 of members 30 and 32 respectively, and isrigidly secured in place as by welding or the like. This reinforcingplate extends longitudinally somewhat beyond the floor sheet structures10 and I2 and is terminated longitudinally beyond each of the thesefloor sheet structures, one end of the reinforcing plate being clearlyvisible in FIG. 3 to the right ofthe floor sheet structure It).

The center sill structure illustrated is typical, and other center sillconstructions of different configuration may also be employed if sodesired.

A pair of support members 50 and 50' of identical constructionareprovided, member 50' being provided with the same reference numeralsprimed as applied to member 50. Each of these support members is formedofa suitable material such as aluminum, and these members may beefficiently formed as an extrusion cut to sufficient length so that thesupport members will extend slightly beyond the oppositely sloping floorsheet structures 10 and 12. Each of these support members is providedwith a plurality of holes spaced longitudinally therealong formechanically fastening these support members to opposite sides of thecenter sill means as hereinafter described.

As seen in FIG. 4, support member 50 includes an upper sloping surface52 which slopes downwardly and outwardly as seen in this FIG. and joinswith a generally vertically extending flat surface 54 which is parallelwith the adjacent wall portion 40 of the center sill means.

A longitudinally extending recessed central portion 56 is defined by thesupport member, and immediately below this recess portion, the supportmember defines a flat lateral securing surface 58 which liessubstantially in the same plane as the surface 54 previously described.

Suitable mechanical fasteners indicated generally by reference numeral60 extend through aligned holes formed in the support member and theadjacent wall portion of the center sill means, the enlarged heads ofthese mechanical fasteners being received within the recessed portion 56of the support member so that the heads of the fasteners do not extendlaterally outwardly of the associated support member beyond the planeofthe surfaces 54 and 58.

Similar mechanical fasteners 60' are provided in association with thesupport member 50' for rigidly connecting this sup port member to theopposite side of the center sill means.

A center sill bottom closure means is indicated generally by referencenumeral 70 and comprises an elongated member of generally U-shapedcross-sectional configuration including a bottom wall portion 72 whichhas opposite generally normally extending parallel side wall portions 74and 76 the inner surfaces of which fit snugly against the lateralsecuring surfaces 58 and 58 of support members 50' and 50 respectively.Member 70 may be formed of a suitable material such as an aluminum alloyand is of only slightly less length than the support members, andextends slightly beyond the opposite sloping floor sheet structures 10and I2.

The upper edges of the side walls 74 and 76 of member 70 are rigidlysecured to the lateral securing surfaces of the support members bylongitudinally extending welds indicated by numerals 80 and 82. In thismanner, the center sill bottom closure means 70 is supported so as toextend below the center sill means and to be spaced therefrom to avoidcontact of dissimilar metals.

A longitudinally extending hood means is indicated generally byreference numeral 90. The cross-sectional configuration of this hoodmeans may be seen most clearly in FIG. 4, the hood means includingupwardly and inwardly sloping walls 92 and 94 which are joined by anarcuate apex portion 96. Wall portions 92 and 94 in turn join withdownwardly extending substantially parallel side walls 98 and 100 theinner surfaces of which rest against the surfaces 54, 58' of supportmember 50' and surfaces 54, S8 of support member 50 respectively. Thelower edges of side walls 98 and 104) are in turn welded in place so asto complete the substantially flush weld bead indicated by referencenumerals 80 and 82. Accordingly, the hood means is supported in spacedrelationship to the center sill means to avoid contact of dissimilarmetals, the hood means extending above the center sill means.

As seen in FIG. 3, the longitudinal end edge 104 of the hood meansslopes downwardly and inwardly of the hopper, it being understood thateach of the end edges of the hood means slopes in the same manner as theend edge MM whereby the end edges of the hood means are adapted to bespaced from the adjacent floor sheet structures It) and 12 when the hoodmeans is disposed in operative assembled position.

As seen in FIG. 1, a pair of identical collars 110 and 110' are providedto form the interconnection between opposite ends of the hood means andthe floor sheet structures and 12 respectively. These collars fit overthe joint between the hood means and the floor sheet structures toprovide a smooth interconnection therebetween which will not interferewith the free flow of lading within the hopper, and which at the sametime will provide a good rigid structural interconnection between theclosure means and the floor sheet structure.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the collar is of such across-sectional configuration so as to define throughout the lengththereof a first flange portion 12% which joins with a second flangeportion 122 disposed at an angle thereto, these flange portions beinginterconnected with one another by an intermediate arcuate portion 124.The flange portion 122 is provided as seen in FIG. 2 with a cutoutportion 126 at the midpoint thereof, and a pair of spaced cutoutportions 123 are provided intermediate the cutout portion 126 and theopposite ends of flange 122, these cutouts being provided to preventcracking of the collar during its forming operation and to allow somedegree of flexibility to permit fitting of the collar to the associatedcomponents before final welding thereof in place is completed.

As seen in FIG. 4-, the collar 110 includes a pair of upwardly slopingportions 130 and 132 interconnected by an arcuate portion 134 wherebythe collar is adapted to conform to the outer configuration of the hoodmeans previously described. A pair of depending side portions .136 and133 are defined by the collar means and these portions are adapted toconform to and fit along the side wall portions of the hood means andthe center sill bottom closure means.

In the completed assembly, the flange portion i of the collar is weldedalong the length of the edge thereof to the adjacent floor sheetstructure. The flange means 122 of the collar is welded along the lengthof the edge thereof to the side wall portions of the center sill bottomclosure means and the hood means as well as the remaining wall portionsof the hood -means, Accordingly, the collar provides a rigidinterconnection between the floor sheet structure and the adjacent hoodmeans and center sill bottom closure means, the collar being sealed withrespect to these members along the peripheral edges thereof.

It will of course be understood that the collar 1141 is in all respectssimilar to collar 110, and is similarly interconnected between theassociated floor sheet structure 12 and the adjacent ends of the hoodmeans and center sill bottom closure means.

When the apparatus is being assembled, the floor sheet structures 10 and12 along with the hood means and the collars and 1M1 may be first formedas a body sub-assembly with the floor sheet structures it) and 12 havingslots formed therein for receiving the center sill means,

The center sill means is provided with the support members on oppositesides thereof, and the center sill bottom closure means is welded inplace. The aforementioned sub-assembly may then be dropped into placeover the center sill means. When the operation is carried out, thesloping upper surfaces 52 and 52' of support members 541 and 50respectively provide a guide means for properly aligning thesub-assembly as it is dropped into place.

After the sub-assembly has been disposed in the proper operativeposition, the lower edges of the hood means are welded to the lateralsecuring surfaces ofthe support members as previously described.

In order to complete the assembly, it is necessary to close off thelower portions of the slots provided in the floor sheet structures It)and 12. Referring to FIG. 5, the floor sheet bottom closure meansemployed is illustrated. A plate includes a flat main body portion 152having a plurality of spaced holes 15 formed along the bottom edgethereof. These holes are provided for attaching a suitable outlet deviceto the hopper which may be either welded or mechanically fastenedthereto depending on the structural materials used.

A pair of similar integral laterally outwardly extending tabs 161) and162 are formed at opposite sides of the main body portion 152 of plate150. Each of these tabs is offset, the tabs being joined with the mainbody portion 152 by sloping portions 1% and 166. As seen most clearly inFIG. 6, tab is offset from the main body portion 152 by a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of the plate whereby the plate isadapted to fit within the spaced edges defining the slot in one of thefloor sheet structures, with the tabs disposed adjacent the undersurfaceof the floor sheet structures and welded thereto.

As seen in FIG. 2, the plate 150 is illustrated in operative position,and it will be understood that the main body portion 152 of the platelies in the same plane as the floor sheet structure 10, while the tab161} is disposed in abutting relationship with the undersurface of thefloor sheet structure and welded thereto. It will be understood that theopposite tab 162 is similarly disposed flush with the undersurface ofthe adjacent floor sheet structure ofwelding thereto.

figuration as seen in MG. 3. The upper edge 172 of this reduced upperportion of the plate is of such a configuration as to conform with theundersurface of the center sill bottom closure means .70 previouslydescribed.

Accordingly, when the floor sheet bottom closure plate 156) is disposedin operative assembled relationship, the upper edge 172 of the plate issecured as by welding to the undersurface of the center sill bottomclosure means '70. The S-shaped cross-sectional configuration of theupper portion of the plate 150 acts as a stress relief means forshrinkage of the welding as it cools.

It will of course be understood that a plate similar to plate 150 isprovided at the opposite side of the hopper for closing off the bottomof the slot provided in floor sheet structure 12.

It is apparent that the components of the closure means of the presentinvention are so designed that they may be easily assembled withoutrequiring any critical fit between the various parts thereof, and at thesame time points ofstrcss concentration which might otherwise be causedby the intersections of the various members are eliminated. Inparticular, the collars provide a smooth closure at the joint betweenthe hood means and the sloping floor sheet structures and eliminatepoints of stress concentration which could be caused by suchintersecting joints.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form theirfunctional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are thereforeintended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway hopper car, the combination of a pair of inclined floorsheets each of which has a slot formed therethrough, a center sill meansextending through the slot in said floor sheets with the floor sheetsextending on opposite side of said center sill means, support meansconnected to opposite sides of said center sill means and extendingsubstantially throughout the length of the center sill means betweensaid floor sheets, center sill bottom closure means connected to saidsupport means and extending below said center sill means and extendingthroughout the distance between said floor sheets, hood means connectedto said support means and extending above said center sill means andextending through throughout the distance between said floor sheets,said center sill bottom closure means and said hood means cooperating tocompletely surround said center sill means throughout the distancebetween said floor sheets, collar means connected to each of said floorsheets and to opposite ends of said hood means to cover the jointbetween said hood means and said floor sheets, a pair of floor sheetbottom closure means each of which closes off the bottom portion of theslot in one of said floor sheets, each of said floor sheet bottomclosure means being secured to said center sill bottom closure means andbeing attached to the adjacent floor sheet, each support meanscomprising a support member having a substantially flat lateral securingsurface whereby said support means at opposite sides of said center sillmeans define spaced parallel securing surfaces, upper portions of saidcenter sill bottom closure means being secured to said parallel securingsurfaces and lower portions of said hood means also being secured tosaid parallel securing surfaces.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein upper portions of said centersill bottom closure means are secured to said lateral securing surfacesand lower portions of said hood means are secured to said securingsurfaces.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said support membersalso includes a downwardly and outwardly sloping surface.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim I wherein each of said support membersincludes a longitudinally extending recessed central portion forreceiving mechanical fastening means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said floor sheetbottom closure means includes offset tabs disposed at opposite sidesthereof for attachment to the adjacent floor sheet.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper portion of each ofsaid floor sheet bottom closure means has a configuration conforming tothe undersurface of said center sill bottom closure means, said upperportion having a curved cross-sectional configuration to provide stressrelief.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim I wherein each support member has anupper sloping surface, each support member also including alongitudinally extending recessed central portion for receivingmechanical fastening means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, including reinforcing meansconnected to the bottom portion of said center sill means and beingspaced from said center sill bottom closure means, each of said floorsheet bottom closure means having an upper end portion conforming to andsecured to the under surface of said center sill bottom closure means,said floor sheet bottom closure means also including offset tahsdisposed at opposite sides thereof for connection to the adjacent floorsheet.

